Straw-rack for threshing-machines



Patented Jan. 3, |899.

F. B. MGDANIELS.

STRAW RACK FOB THRESHING MACHINES.

(Application Bled Jaxx. 25, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(N0 Model.)

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Patented Jan. 3, |899.

No. alms.

` F. B MGDANIELS.- STRAW RACK FRTHRESHING MACHINES.

(Aplilication filed Jan. 25, 1897.)

3 sheets-sheet 2.

(No Model.)

No. 612,116. Patented 1an. 3, 1899. F. B. McDANlELS.

STRAW RACK FOR THBESHING MACHINES.

(Application filed Jan. 25, 189 7.) (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Norms Pneus no.A PHOTO-Limo.. wAsmNoToN o c grain is received from thecylinder as the head This rack consists, essentially, of two series ofrack-bars alternately arranged and provided with means for reciprocatingsaid bars, the arrangement bein g such that the bars of one series havean opposite reciprocation from the bars of the other series-that is tosay, one series of bars move forward as the others move back, and viceversa. Each rack-bar 11 is provided upon its upper surface with a seriesof notches, each notch having at its rear end an abrupt shoulder 12, andthe alternate notches are preferably formed with a rounding or curvedupper surface, as shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, or with laterally slopingor inclined surfaces, as shown in Figs. 6, 8, and 9. Each series of bars11 is supported upon suitable cross-bars, preferably by being rigidlysecured thereto. As here shown, one series of rack-bars 11 is supportedupon the cross-bars 13 13 13, while the other series are supported uponthe cross-bars 14 14 14. It will be understood, however, that anysuitable number of cross-bars may be employed for each series ofrack-bars. The said cross-bars 13 are pivotally supported, as shown inFigs. 15 and 16, to the upper ends of the hangers 6 of one of thegrain-pans 5 and to a short hanger 6', pivotally supported upon theframe of the machine. The other series of cross-bars 14 are pivotallysupported, as shown in Fig. 16, upon the upper ends of the hangers 6 ofthe other grain-pan and upon a short hanger 6, also pivotally supportedupon the wall or frame of the machine. It will be seen that as thegrain-pans are reciprocated the rack-bars 11 will be given an oppositereciprocating movement, and that thereby the straw falling upon saidrack-bars will be rapidly moved along over the surface of the rack, andthat as one series of bars move forward while the other moves backwardthe straw will be picked up by one set of bars at the points where it isleft by the other set of rack-bars. As the bars move forward the abruptshoulders 12 thereon engage the straw and cause it to move forward ortoward the tail end of the machine with the bars, and as said rack-barsmove backward the straw does not move with them, but is left at thepoints to which it is carried in the forward movement of the bars, atwhich points it is picked up by the other series of bars and given afurther forward movement.

As shown in the detail views, Figs. 2 to 8, and also in Figs. 15 and 16,I prefer to make each rack-bar with a series of notches having fiatupper surfaces alternating with notches having laterally inclined orrounded upper surfaces. The purpose of this construction is to enable meto secure two notches in a given depth of the bar, each having a gradualor slight incline to its upper surface, so as to cause but slightfriction or resistance between this inclined surface and the straw whenthe rack is receding or moving backward and leaving the straw. Moreover,any grain lodged upon the flat surface of one notch will as it passesover onto the next succeeding notch slide off laterally and drop uponthe grain-pans below.

I prefer to provide the rack with a series of lifting fingers or blades,preferably arranged also in two series and between the bars of the rack.|These blades may be formed of sheet metal, wire, or other suitablematerial. As shown in Figs. 1, 10, 11, 15, and 16, said blades areformed of sheet metal andare provided upon their upper surfaces with aseries of notches substantially in the shape of sawteeth. As shown inFigs. 1, 15, and 16, these blades 15 are secured to suitable cross-bars16, and said cross-bars are rigidly secured to the hangers that supportthe rack. Any other suitable means of supporting said blades orlifting-fingers may, however, be used. Vith the arrangement shown inFigs. 1, 15, and 16 as one series of rack-bars retreat or move backwardthe corresponding series of lifting fingers or blades move in the samedirection and at the same time are depressed or tipped downward, so thatwhen said bars reach the limit of their backward movement the uppersurfaces of said blades or lifting-fingers are substantially on a levelwith the upper surfaces of said rack-bars. As the rack-bars are moved inthe opposite direction the lifting lingers or blades are elevated andprojected above the u pper surfaces of the rack-bars. This movement ofthe blades is clearly illustrated by the full and dotted linesindicating the different positions of said blades in Fig. 1 of thedrawings. rlhese lifting fingers or blades aid in the movement of thestraw over the surface of the rack and at the saine time as said fingersor blades are quickly projected upward between the bars they lift andshake up the straw, thereby aiding in shaking out the grain from thestraw. They also tend to throw forward the straw, and as said blades arealternately arranged those of one series move in opposite directionsfrom those of the next series. The straw or considerable portions of itwill be tossed from one series of blades to the next series,and so onthroughout the machine. Vhile I prefer to move the blades alternately inopposite directions and to support said blades upon the hangers by whichthe racks are operated, it will be understood that I do not confinemyself to such means for supporting or operating said blades orlifting-fingers. While in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 15, and 16said blades or lifting-fingers have both a reciprocating and anoscillating movement, being tipped or tilted by the hangers upon whichthey are supported and being carried bodily forward and backward by themovement of said hangers, such movement is not essential to theoperation of the device, and in Figs. 10 and 1l of the drawings I haveshown the blades or lifting-fingers 15 mounted upon IOO IIO

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shafts 18, by which said blades orlifting-fingers may be given anoscillating movement only. The blades when thus arranged may be locatedsubstantially as shown in Figs. 1.,

15, and 16 in relation to the reciprocating rack-bars l1, or therack-bars may in this instance and also with the construction andarrangement of blades or lifting-lingers shown in Figs. l, 15, and 1G beomitted.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have shown the blades arranged to alone form thestraw-rack, the reciprocating bars being entirely omitted. Vhen the barsare not employed, it will be understood that a greater number of bladeswill be used. As shown in Figs. 10 and 11, the blades are arranged so asto overlap each other in series, and the shafts 18 being rocked by anysuitable means the blades 15 will be tilted or oscillated, and therebythe straw will be moved over the rack and the grain will be shakentherefrom and will drop down between the blades onto the grain-pansbelow.

In Figs. 12, 13, and 14 I have shown the blades or lifting-fingersformed of wire, with their upper surfaces straight, as shown in Fig. l2,or made of saw-tooth form, as shown in Fig. 14. In Figs. 12, 13, and 14I have also shown the shafts 18 mounted in suitable bearings uponreciprocating bars 20, there being preferably one of said bars at eachside of the machine. These bars are suitably supported, as by means ofthe pivoted hangers 2l, and they are connected to the reciprocatinggrain-pans or to the pitmen 7 or to other suitable means by which theymay be given a reciprocating movement. To the end of each shaft 18 isconnected a crank-arm 22, provided with an opening or slot and connectedby a pin or othersuitable means to the frame or casing of the machine.The crankarms of one series of said shafts 18 extend downward and thoseof the other series eX- tend upward. By this means as the bars 2O arereciprocated the blades or lifting-fingers 15 will be oscillated, thealternate series of blades moving in opposite directions, and by thismeans the blades or lifting-fingers will operate to rapidly move thestraw over the rack and at the same time to shake the grain therefrom.

In Fig. 17 I have shown the pitman 7 made in two sections overlappingeach other, each section being provided with a series of holes 25, withbolts 26 for bolting said sections together. By this means the pitmancan be lengthened or shortened, and thereby the movement of the partsoperated therefrom may be regulated or adjusted. In this Way I canregulate the movement of the rack-bars and blades as occasion mayrequire.

y In Figs. 18 and 19 I have shown the liftingfinger 15 formed byoverlapping the ends of the wire of which it is constructed in asuitable clamp 28, that is secured to the shaft 18 by means of aset-screw 29, the two parts of the clamp being drawn together for thepurpose of clamping the wire by means of a bolt 30.

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- 1. The combination, Withthe two series of oppositely-reciprocating rack-bars and means formoving said bars, of the tilting and reciprocating blades or fingers,the end of each blade or finger thatis toward the head of the rack beingarranged to rise higher than the opposite end as the racksbar is moved,and means for positively tilting and reciprocating said blades orfingers, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a straw-rack for threshingmachines, with the twoseries of .rack-bars alternately arranged, and means for moving saidbars in opposite directions, of the two series of tilting andreciprocating blades or lifting-fingers the end of each blade or fingerthat is toward the head of the rack being arranged to rise higher thanthe opposite end as said blade or finger is tilted, and means forpositively tilting and reciprocating said blades or fingers, for thepurpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a straw-rack for threshing-machines, of a seriesof 'pivotallysupported blades or lifting-fingers, the end of each bladeor lifting-fin ger that is toward the head of the rack being arranged torise higher than its opposite end, and means for positively tilting andreciprocating said blades or fingers, for the purpose set forth.

Lt. The combination, in a straw-rack for threshing-machines, of a seriesof reciprocat- 'ng pivotally-supported blades or lifting-hngers, the endof each blade or finger that is toward the head of the rack beingarranged to rise higher than its opposite end, means for reciprocatingsaid blades or fingers, and means for positively tilting said blades orfingers, for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, in a straw-rack for threshingmachines, of a seriesof alternately` arranged and overlapping blades or fingers, pivoted armsor hangers upon which said blades are supported in a fixed position,said blades projecting from said hangers toward the head of saidstraw-rack, means for reciprocating said blades or fingers, and meansfor positively tilting said blades or fingers, for the purpose setforth.

6. The combination, in a straw-rack for threshing-machines, of aseriesof alternatelyarranged and overlapping blades or fingers,

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pivoted arms or hangers upon which said blades are supported in a fixedposition with the main portions of said blades projecting from saidhangers or arms toward the head of the straw-rack, and means foroscillating said hangers, whereby said blades or fingers are given apositive reciprocating and tilting movement and the ends of said bladesthat are toward the head of the straw-rack being arranged to rise higherthan the opposite ends. y

7. The combination, in a straw-rack for threshing-machines, of a seriesof." blades or lifting-fingers, pivoted arms or hangers upon which saidblades or fingers are supported, said blades or fingers projecting fromsaid hangers toward the head of the straw-rack, and means foroscillating said hangers,where by said blades or fingers are given areciprocating and positive tilting movement and the ends of said bladesthat are toward the head of the straw-rack are caused to rise higherthan the opposite ends.

8. The combination, in a straw-rack for threshing-machines, withreciprocating rackbars, of a series of blades or fingers, pivoted armsor hangers upon which said blades or fingers are supported, said bladesprojecting from said arms or hangers toward the head of the straw-rack,and means for oscillating said hangers, whereby said blades or ngers aregiven a reciprocating and positive tilting movement.

9. The combination, in a straw-rack for threshing-m achines, withreciprocating racks,

of a series of blades or lifting-fingers, pivoted arms or hangers uponwhich said blades or fingers are supported in a fixed position andprojecting from said arms or hangers toward the head of the straw-rack,and means for moving said hangers, whereby said blades or fingers aregiven a reciprocating and tilting movement and the ends of said bladesor fingers that are nearest the head of the strawrack are caused to risehigher than the opposite ends, for the purpose set forth.

l0. The combination, in a straw-rack for threshing-machines, with thetwo series of rack-bars 1l alternately arranged, cross-bars supportingsaid rack-bars, hangers supporting said cross-bars, lifting blades orfingers 15 supported in a fixed position upon said hangers, and meansfor oscillating said hangers, for the purpose set forth.

ll. The combination, in a straw-rack for threshing-machines, with thetwo series of rack-bars 1l alternately arranged, cross-bars supportingsaid rack-bars, hangers supporting said cross-bars,the lifting blades orfingers arranged between said rack-bars and carried by said hangers,thegrain-pans also supported upon said hangers and means for operativelyreciprocating said grain-pans, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day ofJanuary, A. D. 1897.

FRANCIS B. MCDANIELS.

In presence of- A. C. PAUL, M. E. GooLEY.

